Garth Brooks wows, Mindy Benson SUU's interim president, federal judge rules DACA illegal and an alternate gymnast test positive for COVID | | | The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. Send news tips or feedback to [email protected]. | | |
Situational Analysis | July 19, 2021 Welcome to Monday, on the downhill side of the month of July. If you found yourself in the dog house over the weekend, well, good news: today is National Get Out of the Dog House Day, a good time to make amends. (OK, every day is a good day to make amends, but today, it's "official.") Be in the Know ICYMI (In case you missed it), a 95-car train derailed late Thursday night in rural Utah because of flooding that covered the tracks. The three people on board were all injured, but in good or stable condition. Mindy Benson has been named SUU interim president, the first woman to hold that role. She takes over from Scott Wyatt and will remain in that role until a new president is named, expected some time in the spring of 2022. Garth Brooks gave 50,000 people a great show in Rice-Eccles stadium Saturday night. I wasn't there, but social media tells me it was awesome. A federal judge ruled on Friday that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is illegal, halting the approval of new Dreamer applications but leaving the more than 600,000 current DACA recipientsâ status untouched. President Joe Biden called the decision âdeeply disappointingâ and said the Department of Justice intends to appeal it. Ahhh. âPure Joyâ: Breathtaking images of a deer playing with her fawns in a river | | |
Utah Headlines General Photos from Garth Brooksâ record-breaking performance at the University of Utah (Deseret News) Canât stop the music: $30k worth of gear stolen before bandâs SLC show, but this is Utahâ¦(ABC4) Hill Air Force Base's massive military weapons maintenance depot welcomes new top leader (Standard-Examiner) STUDY: ICE ignores protocols, possibly resulting in detention center deaths (KUER) Politics Utah Sen. Mike Lee tops $1M, a personal record, as he faces tough GOP challengers (Salt Lake Tribune) Many of the Founding Fathers were actually fathers. Research from Brigham Young University said that founders who had sons supported federal government, while dads of girls liked local strength (Deseret News) Inside Utah Politics: Water conservation, CPAC straw poll and 2022 Senate race (ABC4) 'Political as Heck' podcast: Texas Dems leave the state, Biden blockbuster spending, Cox removal petition COVID Corner Breakthrough cases of coronavirus are up in Utah â hereâs what to know (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah pediatricians: Younger kids, unvaccinated teens still need masks when school begins this fall (Salt Lake Tribune) US appeals court blocks ruling that would have suspended CDC cruise ship rules (KSL) Delta variant takes hold in U.S. as coronavirus cases rise nearly 70 percent (Washington Post) Drought/Wildfires/Heat How a Utah wildfire almost killed five firefighters in the High Uintas in August 2020 (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah firefighters, Task Force Two, headed to Oregon (KSL) How bad is Utahâs drought? Water managers dipping into emergency supply (Deseret News) Cache water manager paints grim picture for valley agriculture (Cache Valley Daily) Cox says itâs âignorantâ to believe cutting water to farms is the answer to the drought (Salt Lake Tribune) Coalition blasts plans to divert Colorado River amid drought. Utah Rivers Council executive director calls on officials to abandon plans to build the Lake Powell pipeline. (Salt Lake Tribune) Boat ramps across Utah closed or restricted due to drought (Fox13) Economy Utahâs jobless rate was 2.7% in June, second lowest in the U.S. (Salt Lake Tribune) Remote work is here to stay, and it may be a sign of employees' growing power (KUER) Education A Utah school district is reassessing how it cares for athletes after concussions. The Return-to-Learn program considers the difficulties they may face in the classroom. (Salt Lake Tribune) SUU's new interim president will become first woman to hold title (Deseret News) Salt Lake Community College, University of Utah begin construction on new joint campus in Herriman (Utah Business) Elections 5 candidates vying for 2 seats on the Cedar City Council (St. George News) Environment Indigenous leaders call on Biden to enlarge Bears Ears as 25-foot totem pole travels from Washington state to Washington, D.C (Salt Lake Tribune) Young Republicans call on party leaders to address climate change (ABC4) Family Family ties are more important than always being right (Deseret News) Here & there: Beyond Olympic dreams (St. George News) Legal Members of a Utah-based multimillion-dollar opioid drug ring sentenced (KUTV) Utah man who killed his wife on Alaska cruise dies in prison (KUTV) Service United Way of Utah County: National Day of Service and Remembrance builds community (Daily Herald) Circles initiative gives people in poverty hope, support for change (Daily Herald) National Headlines Olympics Unnamed American gymnastics alternate tests positive at Olympics. The two alternates are Kara Eaker and Leann Wong (AP) Japan girds for a surreal Olympics, and questions are plenty (AP) U.S. tennis star Coco Gauff tests positive for coronavirus and will miss Olympics (NPR) Politics Senate infrastructure bill drops IRS Funding, raising pressure for new revenue (Wall Street Journal) Graham says he'd 'leave town' to stop $3.5T spending plan (The Hill) Economy Stock Futures, Oil Drop as Delta Variant Sends Investors Into Bonds (Wall Street Journal) China is buying up American farms. Washington wants to crack down.
Bipartisan pressure is building to stop foreign nationals from purchasing American farm operations and receiving taxpayer subsidies. (Politico) Elections Pence flatlines as 2024 field takes shape. âThere are some Trump supporters who think heâs the anti-Christ,â said one Iowa GOP official. (Politico) NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristof eyeing gubernatorial bid in Oregon: report (The Hill) Security Microsoft Exchange email hack was caused by China, US says (AP) Israeli firm's spyware used to target journalists' cell phones - reports (Reuters, Washington Post) Despite the hype, iPhone security no match for NSO spyware (Washington Post) | | |
Policy News Gov. Spencer J. Cox explains effects of drought on Utahâs agricultural sector Gov. Spencer J. Cox joined Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Commissioner Craig Buttars and Layton farmer Tyson Roberts to discuss the adverse effects of Utahâs lingering drought on the stateâs farms and ranches.
âUtah farms and ranches have seen water cuts from 70-75% across the state,â Gov. Cox said. âIâm grateful to our farmers and ranchers for doing their part to conserve water, but we know these cutbacks will have a direct effect on the food we eat and on every aspect of our economy. As a state, we stand ready to help our farmers and ranchers through an extremely trying time.â
According to the Utah Department of Natural Resources, 100% of Utah is experiencing drought conditions. At 58% of normal, Utah reservoir levels are lower now than they were at the end of the 2020 irrigation season last October. (Read More) | | |
What will our legacy be? Planning for the futureâs infrastructure needs By Sarah Wright and Karl Sun Utah, our home, is a pioneering state that has always been able to see around the corner, seize opportunities, and put people first. Forward-thinking investment and world-changing infrastructure set the stage for what was unprecedented American economic prosperity in the 20th century. Now knee-deep into the 21st century, itâs time we act with the same bold and ambitious vision as our predecessors by investing in the future. We are in the midst of an important discussion about the definition of âinfrastructure.â Both President Biden and Congressional Republicans have put forth plans and seem to have a compromise to upgrade our roads, bridges, and airports. While we surely need to do these, investments in concrete and steel wonât be enough to secure prosperity for our children and our grandchildren. Being responsible stewards of our state and our nationâs future calls on us to make significant investments in rural communities, broadband, clean energy, and air quality. We can ensure that the entire state thrives in a low carbon future, while also improving health and quality of life here in Utah and positioning Utah to be an energy powerhouse in the 21st century. We have both seen that smart, future-oriented investments can pay off. Utah leaders prioritized and paved the way to make Utah a tech leader, with Silicon Slopes and companies like Lucid bringing jobs, new talent, and new opportunities to our state. Right now, we are in the midst of an unprecedented global energy transition, with a wave of low-emissions technologies, from solar energy to electric vehicles, overtaking traditional energy resources. By embracing clean energy and innovation, Utah can grow the energy industries of the future and the economic and climate benefits that will come with them, right here in our state. A strategy that includes national investments in clean energy and energy innovation can help us unlock this potential. Clean energy takes many forms. First, letâs take a look at our stateâs abundant renewable energy potential. Utah is blessed with untapped solar, geothermal, and wind potential. Smart investments in transmission and energy storage would not only improve the reliability of our electricity system, but also unlock Utahâs potential to develop our renewable resources in all corners of the state. We can deliver more renewable energy to Utahns and continue our proud tradition as an energy-exporting state. Utah has positioned itself to be a national leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. In fact, Utah State University is host to a national EV charging research center, called ASPIRE, and the Utah legislature has authorized our electric utility, Rocky Mountain Power, to deploy EV charging equipment across our state. New national investments in EV charging infrastructure will accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles across the state and the significant air quality benefits that zero-emissions vehicles deliver. We canât forget energy efficiency. Utah faces critical housing affordability issues in urban and rural communities. We will save families money on their energy bills and reduce air pollution by supporting energy retrofits and zero-emissions heating and cooling technologies in our homes and buildings. Utah created an effective and popular home residential energy upgrade program during the Great Recession of 2008. Letâs do that again! We find ourselves at a unique moment of opportunity to drive big changes through smart 21st century infrastructure investments that will set up Utah and our nation to succeed in the future. By embracing these opportunities as part of any national infrastructure legislation, Utahâs congressional delegation will help our state and our nation adapt and thrive in the future. We are already twenty years into the 21st century. Now is the time to ask, what do we want our legacy to be and are we willing to make the necessary investments? Sarah Wright is the Executive Director of Utah Clean Energy. Karl Sun is the co-founder and CEO of Lucid. | | |
Upcoming Utah Foundation Breakfast Briefing: Mental health in anxious times â Aug 26 @ 9 am. Register here Securing the American Dream: A conversation with Tim Scott presented by the Hatch Foundation â Aug 11 @ noon. Register here Utah Foundation Annual Luncheon with Shaylyn Romney Garrett â Sept 23 @ 12 pm. Register here | | |
On This Day In History From History.com 64 Nero's Rome burns 1814 - Samuel Colt is born. In 1836, he received a patent on a revolving six-cylinder pistol. 1843 - The Great Western Steamship Company launches the SS Great Britain. The steamship was the first ocean-going ship with an iron hull and screw propeller. She was also the largest ship on the ocean at the time. 1848 - The Seneca Falls Convention begins, the first-ever women's rights convention in the US. During the convention, 68 women and 32 men sign the "Declaration of Sentiments," including the first formal demand made in the United States for women's right to vote. 1865 - Charles Mayo is born. Along with his brother William, he founded the Mayo Clinic. Wise Words "It is the duty of the women of this country to secure to themselves their sacred right to the elective franchise."
-Declaration of Sentiments, Seneca Falls Lighter Side âDuring a visit to the White House, pop star Olivia Rodrigo made a surprise appearance at the afternoon press briefing to help promote youth vaccinations, which should have a big impact on the millions of teens who watch the White House press briefings.â â SETH MEYERS | | |
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